The Proverbial "Knife in Back" Situation

I bet the first person who was stabbed in the back did something unforgivable to the knife wielder. I mean, what enrages people, what entices them to evil, what makes them thirst for blood more than revenge?
Klondike bars.
But seriously folks, what's up with the vengeance? Not only has my knee injury brought out the comedian in everybody (you know who you are, dirty old man with the sideburns and blinged-out earring), but it's also brought out the... greed?
The first question I get, usually after the "are you ok?!" (well, a truck slammed into my leg, causing my knee bones to bump together which lead to the fracture... so yeah, I'm doing pretty good thanks), I get, "are you suing?". Sometimes it prefaces the concern for my well being. It took me a while to get it. I mean, in the face of it all does money really matter? I'd much rather be alive and hobbling than broken and taking the bastard for all he's worth. Finally, someone put it into perspective. People tend to want revenge when something goes wrong, yeah? So in actuality, everyone asking me if I was going to try and bleed this person dry (such violent imagery), was really just everyone reaching out and being sympathetic. It's like, in some odd way, they're defending my honor.
I still think the whole revenge thing is a terrible aspect of the human mind. It's true, however, that when something goes wrong, or someone does something to us, the mind automatically leaps at how to get back at them. Rude waitress? No tip. Best friend steals your boyfriend? Steal hers. Boyfriend cheats on you? Go Carrie Underwood on his car. Books have been written about getting even, great Shakespearean works and soap operas alike often feature revenge. It helps create drama, but it also gives us some feeling of power. Obviously whatever happened to make someone want revenge was out of their control, and by seeking vengeance, by letting your wrath against these people be shown, you're effectively taking that control back. Really, when you get down to it, revenge, like optimism, is just another coping mechanism to keep us sane.